United Nations, Aug 20 (IANS) Cheap armed drones are transforming modern warfare and creating a “dystopian reality” in which civilians and humanitarian workers can be deliberately targeted from a distance, the United Nations’ relief chief has warned. Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said rapidly advancing technology was extending the reach of wars while weakening accountability for those responsible for attacks.Speaking fro…

Mumbai, August 20 (IANS) Actress Rashmika Mandanna had a playful request for her husband and actor Vijay Deverakonda after he shared a candid picture from a relaxing afternoon at home.Vijay had taken to his social media account on Wednesday night to share a picture of himself lying between his parents, Govardhan Rao and Madhavi Deverakonda, as they appeared to enjoy a laid-back afternoon nap together.Sharing the picture, Vijay wrote, “Rains Canceled shoots – You get an afternoon nap in your fa…

United Nations, Aug 20 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to address world leaders at the high-level meeting of the General Assembly in September, according to a preliminary schedule. His address is set for the afternoon session on September 25 that runs from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in New York, corresponding to 12:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. the next day in India.The timing of his address is likely to be adjusted when the schedule is finalised to an hour that is convenient for audiences in India.P…

Washington, Aug 20 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has delayed a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian goods for three days, saying the two neighbours were close to an agreement that could also reduce duties on steel and aluminium. “We delayed it for three days because I think we have a deal with the Prime Minister and a good deal for everybody,” Trump said at the White House.The President said the tariff had been scheduled to take effect on Wednesday morning but was postponed at Canada’s reques…

New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS) Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday reiterated the Central government’s commitment to strengthening development and infrastructure along India’s border areas, asserting that regions neglected in the past have now become a “top priority” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Rijiju took to X and shared a video from his recent visit to the remote border areas of Maza, Galemo and Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh. The video showed constructio…

Washington, Aug 20 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could face “very Draconian sanctions” even as he played down the Strait of Hormuz’s future importance, arguing that increased American energy production and new supply routes had reduced the world’s dependence on the strategic waterway. “We have things that we could sanction. We have very Draconian sanctions, and we’ll see what happens,” Trump said at the White House when asked about possible new measures against Tehran.The…

Jerusalem, Aug 20 (IANS) Israel’s Mossad chief Roman Gofman held a phone call last week with Syrian foreign affairs chief Asaad Hassan al-Shibani about Turkey’s military presence in Syria, the first such contact since Gofman assumed leadership of Israel’s intelligence agency in June, Israel’s state-owned Kan TV reported. The reported call comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Turkey over Ankara’s alleged growing military role in Syria.While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s…

New Delhi/ Mumbai, Aug 20 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, in New Delhi on Thursday to further strengthen defence cooperation between the two nations and promote peace in the Indo-Pacific region. “The meeting is expected to further strengthen bilateral defence relations, enhance strategic trust and cooperation, promote stability & security in the Indo-Pacific region and identify new areas of collaboration,” t…

United Nations, Aug 20 (IANS) United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed will be visiting India this month to discuss cooperation and sustainable development, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric has said. During the visit from August 26 to 28, she will meet “senior government officials to discuss UN-Indian cooperation and India’s engagement in advancing sustainable development goals” in New Delhi, Dujarric said on Wednesday (local time).The UN Spokesperson mentioned that a meeting with…

Washington, Aug 20 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has said the United States is leading China “by a lot” in artificial intelligence, signalling that the emerging technology will be among the issues discussed when Chinese President Xi Jinping visits in September. “We’re leading in every single one, and I will tell you, the AI, the artificial intelligence, we’re way ahead of number two,” Trump said at the White House, where he hosted leaders from the technology, cryptocurrency and financial sect…